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Canvasses from abroad

I receive paintings every week from other parts of the world, from Ghana, Cuba, Guatemala, Bali, Australia, France, Kenya, Dominican, and Czechia. They arrive rolled inside cardboard tubes, sometimes painted on very dubious materials, always with very little margin to reattach them. They can be tricky to re-stretch, and in the worst cases I have opted to dry mount them as a way of salvaging the cracked or otherwise damaged paint film. Either way, once remounted and properly framed, the prized paintings can be displayed and enjoyed for many years to come.

If you are a traveller who likes to support local artists, you might want to check the quality of the fabric. Even a light canvas is better than a bed sheet. If possible, see that the painting is removed from its stretcher by pulling the staples, rather than by slicing it off. This helps to provide a wider margin. If you are packing it yourself for transport, the consensus among art conservators is this: roll the canvas paint side out around the outside of the largest cardboard tube available, then cover with a protective layer.

The world is wide, and it is indeed a great privilege to have access to the cultural products of so many varied peoples.